Time switch



Dec. 21, 1943. A', wlLLlAMs 2,337,515

TIMEYswI'roHI l Fil'ed Ag. 27, 1941 een! llignisamodiiied form of e ing the bracket which carries the switch provided with' a threaded socket which may be substituted e Patented Dec. 21, 1943 UNITED sittin-:s PATENT OFFICE l Lee A. Williams, Chicago, Ill., assignor of one-fifth to John P. Smith, Chicago, lll.

Application August 27, 1941, Serial No.1408,481

for the conventional alarm winding key of the 1 Claim.

The present invention relates generally to time switches, but more particularly to a simple and quick detachable time switch construction which may be easily attached to or detached from any form of conventional alarm clock without changing or altering the construction of the clock.-

Another object of the invention lis tov provide a simple, compact and economical construction of a time switch which is provided with-a detachable clamping means so that the same may be attached to or detached from the alarm key or winding stem of a conventional alarm clock.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction of a time switch which is adapted to be detachably secured to the conventional alarm winding key or stem of an alarm clock and be wholly supported thereby.

A still further object of the invention is to provide va simple, compact as well as economical construction of a time switch or circuit breaker in which the switch thereof is wholly supported on the conventional alarm winding key in such a manner that a laterally projecting arm carried by the switch is adapted 4to engage one of the posts projectingr from the alarm clock to stop v the rotary action of thekey and switch to either open or close the circuit of the wire connections connected to the switch.

These and other objects are-accomplished by providing a construction and an arrangement of the various parts in the manner hereinafter described and particularlypointed out -in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawing: v

Fig. 1 is a' diagrammatic view illustrating one manner in which my improved time switch may be connected to one form oi' conventional alarm clock;

Fig. 2 isv an enlarged fragmentary cross sec? 1' tional View taken on the line 2-2 in Fig, 3 illustrating the constructionpf my improved switch; v Eig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view illustrating the mannerlfinhwhich the switch is' detachably mounted on the winding key of a conventional alarm clock; e

` Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional' view showing th manner in whichv the switch is actuated to close the circuit: v

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line B-'l in Fig. 2'; and

my invention showalarm clock.

' For the purpose of illustration. I have shown one embodiment of my invention as comprising a simple ball switch which includes a cylindrical casing I0 which is preferably made of insulated material of plastic orof nbre form. One end of this casing is closed as vshown at I I.

The other end of the casing l0 is open and is provided with a disc I2 which is secured therein in any well known manner. The inner surface of the disc I2 is provided with a tapered or conically shaped concavity as shown at I3. The disc I2 is prefer--` ably made of insulated material and has extending therethrough the terminal ends of the wires i4. The inner ends of these wires I4 have flat contact heads as shownat I5. These contact heads I5 are adapted to be engaged by a contact ball I6 in order to close the circuit. The ball I8 isreciprocally mounted within and is of smaller diameter than the bore of thc casing I0. 0bviously from the above description, when the casing I0 is tilted to the position shown in Fig. 2, the ball moves to one end of the casing shown in this figure to break the circuit while when the `casing is tilted in the position shown in Fig. 4,

the contact ball 6 contacts the terminal heads I5 to close the circuit. Embracing the casing I0 and secured thereto in anyvwell known manner, is a clamping bracket I'I. Formed integrally with the clamping bracket I'I and extending laterally therefrom are spring-like spaced apart ears I8. The outermost ends of these ears are curved outwardly or diverging as shown at I9 so as to permit the bracket Il to be detachably fastened to the flat portion 2010i the conventional winding key 2l usually found on the rear wall of a conventional alarm clock generally indicated by the reference character 22. These clamping ears Il have a cut-out portion as shown at 23 so that the same can embrace the barrel portion of the key and permit the bracket Il. to be more rigidly held in positionl when the same is detachably fastened to the key.

Secured to one of the ears I8 Voi the bracketA in its unwinding operation when the alarm is being rung soas to stop the switch casingl Il in the position shown in Fig. 4y of the drawing,

thereby actuating the contact'bau n to engage the contact points l5 to close the circuit and thereby turn ona light or turn on a radio or start the coiee percolator in\. operation or db all oi' these things at the same time.

The wires I4 from the switch casing extend through a multiple plug connection as shown at 21 and has an extension thereof as shown at 28 which in turn is connected to a conventional plug 29. The plug 29 is adapted tolbe connected to the usual outlet 30 so as to connect the time switch to a source of electrical energy. suitable plug 3l and wire connection I2, radios, lights, percolators .and other electrical attach ments or apparatus may be plugged into' the multiple outlet 21 for connection with the time switch.

In connection with the use of my improved time switch mechanism, I have found that certain conventional types of alarm clocks have the4 winding stem or keys of the alarm turn both in clockwise and counterclockwise direction when the alarm is being rung. When such is the case, the stop arm or wire 2l may be bent to various positions as shown in broken lines in Fig. 2 so that the device may be operated or attached to the winding key of the alarm clock regardless of the direction in which the key turns when the alarm is rung. In this connection it will also be noted by reversing the position of the clamp and switch with respect to the key, the time switch may be used to tur'n o3 the electricity at a specified time, such for example, turning off the lights in a show case or show window or the like at a predetermined time.

In Fig. 6 ofthe drawing, I have illustrated a modiiled form of my invention in which the casing I0 in this instance is provided with a.

bracket 33 which frictionally engages the casing and has a laterally projecting ilange 34 formed integrally therewith. This ange 34 has secured, thereto a post 35 having a centrally threaded bore 36. This modified form oi.' the bracket is adapted to be substituted for the conventional key 20 mounted by merely remov- Iliya4 bracket 33.

While in the above speciilcation I have described my improved time switch as being adapted to be detachably connected to the winding key or stem of the alarm of a conventional alarm clock and in which the arm 25 stops the rotation of the switch by engaging the hand setting post of the clock, it`wil1 of course be understood that in various types of conventional alarm clocks the winding key of the alarms are located in various positions on the rear of the clock and that various other posts, such as the alarm set post, or other projecting parts, may be used to form the stop for 'the arm 25. By bending or adjusting the arm 25 to its properposition such as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 3 of the drawing, the position of the switch may be controlled so as to close or ,open the circuit,

While in the above specification I have de-l scribed one embodiment and one modication which my invention may assume in practice, it will of course be understood that various other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claim.

I claim:

The combination with an alarm clock having an alarm winding key projecting from the rear thereof, an electric switch detachably and wholly supported by said key, a member pro- Jecting from the rear of said clock, a bendable arm carried by said switch adapted to engage said member for limiting the movement of said switch to close an electric circuit, and means whereby the position of said arm may be changed to engage said member for limiting the movement of said switch to open said electric circuit.

' LEE A. WILLIAMS. 

